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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation
3.23.433.23.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.44

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.23.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

विभज्य नवधात्मानं मानवीं सुरतोत्सुकाम् ।

रामां निरमयन् रेमे वर्षपूगान्मुहूर्तवत् ॥ ४४ ॥

vibhajya navadhātmānaṁ

mānavīṁ suratotsukām

rāmāṁ niramayan reme

varṣa-pūgān muhūrtavat

Translation

After coming back to his hermitage, he divided himself into nine personalities just to give pleasure to Devahūti, the daughter of Manu, who was eager for sex life. In that way he enjoyed with her for many, many years, which passed just like a moment.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Expansions Have No Limit

  1. 1

    Kardama Muni expanded himself into nine forms to satisfy Devahūti’s desire for sexual enjoyment. Many years passed as if they were a moment.

  2. 2

    The purport presents his expansion as another example of yogic power. Even a powerful yogī cannot expand into more than eight or nine forms.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead can expand into innumerable forms. No display of power by a yogī can compare with His.

Key points from the purport
  • Otherwise, Kardama Muni would have had no reason to expand himself into nine.
  • As the Supreme Personality of Godhead can expand Himself in millions of forms, a yogī can also expand up to nine forms, but not more than that.
  • But however powerful a yogī may be, he cannot expand himself into more than eight or nine forms.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Longing and service → Preparedness. Family devotion turns toward higher spiritual fulfillment.

Chapters 20–24 of Canto 3: Kardama, Devahūti, family and renunciation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation

Devahūti serves Kardama, shares his extraordinary household life, and asks who will comfort her after his departure.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vibhajyahaving divided
  2. nava-dhāinto nine
  3. ātmānamhimself
  4. mānavīmthe daughter of Manu (Devahūti)
  5. suratafor sex life
  6. utsukāmwho was eager
  7. rāmāmto his wife
  8. niramayangiving pleasure
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Why is it important not to equate a powerful yogī with the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Practice

Write one sentence distinguishing limited yogic power from the Lord’s unlimited power.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.23's connections

Live this todayThe Lord’s Expansions Have No LimitThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.23.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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